First step towards sainthood of Robert Schuman is ‘wonderful’, says senior MEP It is reported that Pope Francis could recognise the “heroic virtues” of one of the EU’s founding fathers within weeks. European Parliament Audiovisual: Robert Schuman, front row, centre 13 Apr 2021 A senior Rome-based Catholic cleric, Father Bernard Ardura, said, “Schuman dedicated his life to serving the common good, seeking peace and reconciliation with Germany to create a community of European states.” Several Popes have backed the idea of a “European project” and the French-born Schuman, a devout Catholic, was first mooted for sainthood some three decades ago. The possibility of him becoming a saint was welcomed by senior Polish EPP MEP Danuta Hubner, who told this site, “It is wonderful that Pope Francis, a man of peace and reconciliation, will bestow the highest honour of the Catholic Church on the man who shared the same values and gave both the Christian and human witness to his epoch in a way that was needed at the time.”